Stacking the Shelves (24)

Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

EBOOKS I GOT THIS WEEK:

 

First Lines: November 2013

The first words you read can often set the tone for the entire story.  I thought it would be fun to keep track of the first lines of the books I read each month and share them with you.  Below are the first lines for all the books I read in November.

Embers and Echoes by Karsten Knight

 "Ashline Wilde lay battered on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway and watched her boyfriend emerge from the fiery car wreck, back from the dead."

 Afterglow by Karsten Knight

"Colt's snowmobile picked up speed as he revved the engine, racing north across the vast glacier."

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

"Eleven years, two months, seven days."

ARC Book Review: Afterglow by Karsten Knight

Title: Afterglow
Author: Karsten Knight
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: Nov 12, 2013
Rating: 3/5

Cover Impressions:  I did a little searching and found out that Laurent Linn is the cover artist for all three books.  Man, does he ever do good work.  All three of these covers are stunning and, as I said before, I loved that extra step of making the covers velvety soft.  They make me want to cuddle them. 

Review:
Afterglow is an enjoyable read with enough action to keep most readers interested.  Unfortunately, it does suffer from some of the same issues that the previous books did.  Ash has grown into her powers and is, at the same time, more and less reluctant to use them to hurt other gods.  Eve is back, and electric as ever (heh - see what I did there?).  I almost wish the series were written from dual (or tri) points of view.  I would have loved seeing different scenes from inside the heads of each of the three sisters.  I am a fan of the flashbacks though, they showed an interesting view of the Goddess Pele and gave some insight into the way in which the past has been influencing the present. 

As I mentioned in a previous review,  I really liked how we got to see a number of gods from different cultures but I wish that there was more time spent developing those characters rather than just dropping them in to hit some sort of multi-cultural quota.  I am a little bitter about the arrival (and quick dismissal) or one my favorite characters from the first book.  I really wanted these characters to be more than just plot movers.  Every time we met an awesome and amazing god - They Die!

As with the last book, this one has definite peaks and valleys.  There are lots of exciting moments and action scenes.  There are, however, very few wins in the good guy category.  It got a little old to see Ash and crew constantly having their asses handed to them or, when expecting a win, having it snatched out of their hands at the last moment.  This does have the positive side effect of making me really hate Colt.  By the end, I was itching for his death just as much as Ash was. 

And then there was the ending.  I was left a little unsatisfied.  There were some awesome characters that were lost and then we had this strange afterword that was more than a little unbelievable*

Overall, the series was an enjoyable read, and I liked seeing all the different incarnations of the gods.  And the plot was fast paced enough to keep most readers interested.  Definitely buying this one to add to my classroom collection.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 15 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing, Possible sex - very vague
Violence: Death by supernatural means, hand to hand combat
Inappropriate Language: Fuck, Bastard, Asshole, Whore
Substance Use/Abuse: None

* Seriously?  You expect me to believe that after 80 years, the new incarnation just happened to pick out Ashline's book from the millions that would have been printed in all that time?  Assuming that the book was actually still in print?!

Book Review: Embers & Echoes by Karsten Knight

Title: Embers & Echoes
Author: Karsten Knight
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Rating: 3/5

Cover Impressions:  Oooooh pretty.  Love these covers.  Not only do they have stunning images and fonts that don't overpower - but they feel super soft and velvety. 

Review:
The first time around, I really enjoyed Wildefire.  But clearly not enough, because when Embers & Echoes was published I bought it - but it sat on my shelf until just now.  I just never felt the desire to read it.  Now, with the impending release of the final book in the trilogy, it was time to crack the spine (but just figuratively - I hate cracked spines.) 

Embers & Echoes opens exactly where Wildefire left off, with the car wreak on the highway and Colt emerging unscathed.  I understood Ash's anger at this point, but really?  You didn't have the least little inkling that in this newly discovered world of gods, your boy toy might just be special as well?  I was very happy to see how she left him and that, despite her being a bit of a boring character, at least she wasn't a pushover.

I really liked that the characters came from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities.  It is something you don't see all that often in YA.  However, most of these characters are barely explored and it almost feels like Knight is trying to tick as many boxes as possible, without actually having the page time to flesh them out.  Having her meet up with a new group of gods in this book is interesting and fun, but I do wish there was some more continuity with the characters we had already grown to know.  I will only be happy with this choice if, in the third book, they are all brought together again.  I miss Raja!!!

The whole Four Seasons things was a bit 90s Saturday morning cartoonish.  I simply couldn't take them seriously as a threat because I kept giggling at their name. 

The plot of Embers & Echoes had some real peaks and valleys.  When it was exciting - it was super exciting, but when it was boring oh god was it ever boring.  We see lots of gods get killed (usually ones that we barely know and don't have a great connection to) and some romantic elements that are nothing special.  There isn't a great deal of forward movement between the first book and the third.  I would have liked some character development or some wins on the side of the good guys but, instead, we seem to get a supernatural blood bath without anything of consequence being accomplished. 

I'm still in for the third book.  I am hoping it ties things together and that we bring back some old characters for more than just a page or two.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 15 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Death by supernatural means, gunplay, hand to hand combat, kidnapping
Inappropriate Language: Prick, Bitch, Bastard, Shit
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage drinking

Under the Covers Classics

There are times when I jump into reading in order to find an interesting new story with characters that are unique and transport me to a place that I have never been. 

And then there are the times with I look to my reading as a point of comfort.  It is at those times that I will seek out the books of my childhood (or at least previous years) in an attempt, occasionally, to bring back those feelings of excitement at finding a new book, author or series.  Of nights spend pretending to be asleep while actually hiding under the covers, reading by flashlight.  Of weekdays spent hiding books in my desk in Math class and weekends spent reading for hours on end, with no responsibilities to tear me away from my fictional worlds. 

I miss those days a lot while I am running around after a child (and a husband) and trying to manage the ever growing pile of demands at work.  And I hope that I will be able to remember those days when my children are hiding beneath the blankets and that I will refrain from yelling at them to "Just Go To SLEEP!"

In my attempt to regain those days this past month I started a re-read of the Circle of Three series.  For anyone who is unfamiliar, it is a series that chronicles three teenage girls as they discover the world of witchcraft and begin a year and a day of study.  When I first read the series, I devoured them one after the other.  Now, I could barely get through the first three.  Perhaps, my tastes have become much more demanding as I have gotten older and started reading more prolifically, but the stories just didn't hold up the way they used to and the characters didn't seem as interesting this time around.  Part of me wishes that I could go back, and experience the "first time" all over again.  And it got me thinking about all the other books/series that I wish I could re-experience for the first time:

Harry Potter:  I imagine this would be on a lot of people's lists.  The excitement of readers was palpable once word of this series began to spread.  I loved working at Chapters while the series was still being released because so many people were excited and it made reading something that we could talk about again.  Suddenly, it was ok to dress up and stand in line for hours at a book release and when the movies were announced it added an extra sense of mayhem. 

The Witches:  I loved this book as a kid.  I must have read it at least 30 times as well as watching the movie (if you have never seen it, you must - Angelica Houston is a goddess).  My school library was pretty damn limited, and the nearest bookstore was a 4 hour drive so Roald Dahl became my go-to when the constraints of small town living had me feeling more than a little lonely. 

The Chronicles of Narnia:  I loved this series so much that the hardcover box set was the last thing I bought with my employee discount before my time at Chapters ended.  I just couldn't leave without knowing that I had my own copy of this series if I ever needed walk through the wardrobe once more.  Again, this was in my itty bitty school library and I must have filled an entire card with the number of times that I checked it out. 

Book Review Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Title: Wildefire
Author: Karsten Knight
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Rating: 3/5

Cover Impressions:  Oh so pretty.  I absolutely love this image.  The colors are dark, but stunning and the unassuming title font doesn't take away from the beauty of the smoke curls.  Even better, the physical book feels almost velvety to the touch.  I have no idea what treatment they used on the book jacket, but I love it. 

Review:

This is a re-read for me and I seem to remember enjoying it a whole lot more the first time around.  Perhaps my tastes have changed or, perhaps, most of the allure of the book comes from not knowing what is going to happen next.

When this book opens, we meet Ash, who seems, at first glace, to be a badass.  We are quickly shocked by her sister, Eve, who swoops in a creates a great deal of havoc and seems to thrive on violence.  It bothered me that, despite the fact that Eve becomes a very important character, we never really get to know Eve's backstory or why she is so angry with the world.  In the wake of Eve's destructive powers, Ash escapes to a private school and we jump forward several months to see her partaking in a night of debauchery.  When a mysterious call for help is only heard by a select group, she discovers that she may not be quite as ordinary as she thought.

I really enjoyed watching the kids as they stepped into their powers and using my (somewhat limited) knowledge of mythology to try and guess which teen would be which god.  I did think that the kids seemed to accept this whole god thing rather quickly and they went from using their powers during one catastrophic event to using them skillfully and at will.  I would have enjoyed seeing some of this progression as they practiced these newfound skills.  They also seem to jump straight from complete and total strangers to a tight knit group of friends a bit too quickly to seem realistic.  Even my beloved Raja, queen of the withering looks, morphed into a dress-lending, advice-giving uber bestie.

Some of the kids are awesome and I had entertained the thought that perhaps the next book would follow a different teen (come on Raja!) but, alas, we are to leave those kids behind and continue to listen to Ash whine.  She is not a particularly interesting character and I quickly bored of her woe is me attitude and her lackluster flirting.  The relationship between her and Colt is not exactly insta-love but it does progress rather quickly and I could not quite get over the fact that he is an adult man and she is a 16??? year old girl.  That is far too creepy for me. 

I am definitely on board for the next book, Embers and Echoes because I have a copy of the third book waiting for review. 

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 16 and up
Gender:  Both
Sex: Sexual Activity (no intercourse) and vulgar language
Violence: Violent Death Scenes, Gunplay, Knifeplay
Inappropriate Language: Piss, Bitch, Whore, Pussy, Fuck, Dick, Ass, Bastard, Shit,
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking

First Lines: October 2013

The first words you read can often set the tone for the entire story.  I thought it would be fun to keep track of the first lines of the books I read each month and share them with you.  Below are the first lines for all the books I read in October.

 Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

"I have heard it said, by those that cannot possibly know, that in the final moments of a man's existence he sees his whole life pass before his eyes."

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
"The hours were bad."

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

"'Miss Temminnick, Miss Plumleigh-Teignmott, with me, please, ladies.'"

Shine by Lauren Myracle
"Patrick's house was a ghost."

"Dear Mr. S. Harris, Ignore the blob of red in the top left corner."

"When I was ten years old, I wrote a letter to my future self and buried it in my backyard."

"Ashline Wilde was a human mood ring."

My favorite this month was probably from Hyperbole and a Half, though Ketchup clouds is a close second.  I love the uniqueness of both of these lines and how they immediately draw you into the scene.

My least favorite line was probably Curtsies & Conspiracies because a) it was boring and b) it reminded me of those sheer ridiculousness of the names in this series.

Waiting on Wednesday (39)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: This Wicked Game by Michelle Zink which is due to be released on June 4th.

 Claire Kincaid’s family has been in business for over fifty years.

The voodoo business.

Part of the International Guild of High Priests and Priestesses, a secret society that have practiced voodoo for generations, the Kincaid’s run an underground supply house for authentic voodoo supplies. Claire plays along, filling orders for powders, oils and other bizarre ingredients in the family store, but she has a secret.

She doesn’t believe.

Struggling to reconcile her modern sensibilities with a completely unscientific craft based on suspicion, Claire can’t wait to escape New Orleans – and voodoo – when she goes to college, a desire that creates almost constant conflict in her secret affair with Xander Toussaint, son of the Guild’s powerful founding family.

But when a mysterious customer places an order for a deadly ingredient, Claire begins to realize that there’s more to voodoo – and the families that make up the Guild – than meets the eye.

Including her own.

As she bands together with the other firstborns of the Guild, she comes face to face with a deadly enemy – and the disbelief that may very well kill her.

New Orleans, Voodoo, An Underground Supply Network - what's not to love?  I am totally intrigued by this book and am still holding out hope at getting a review copy.

ARC Book Review: Curtsies & Conspiracies

Title: Curtsies & Conspiracies
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Brown/Hachette
Release Date: November 5th, 2013
Rating: 2/5

Cover Impressions:  Oh so pretty.  I love that this is not quite the typical pretty girl in a pretty dress cover.  For one, the dress fits quite well within the world of the book and shows no skin.  The knife adds interest but, at least in the image, appears to be

The Gist: Sophronia is entering her second year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality - which is actually Mademoiselle Geraldine's training school for young spies.  The girls are excited to learn of an upcoming trip to London, but Sophronia believes that there must be some mysterious reason that the school would come out of hiding and she puts her lessons to good use in trying to get to the bottom of the nefarious plot.

Review:  I am still not sure how I feel about this book.  I certainly enjoyed it more that Etiquette & Espionage, however, I am still not sure I actually LIKED it.

My major issues from the previous book remained:

1) the names - the unpronounceable, ridiculous and annoying names!  I simply cannot get past this point and I feel it was completely unnecessary.  I couldn't help picturing the author throwing our random scrabble tiles in order to create some of these characters - an image that was constantly distracting me from the plot.
2) The lack of character development.  Sophronia continues to be self centered and singularly focused - to the detriment of those around her.  Her friends continue to be mere plot movers and are not able to stand on their own.  They have interesting facets, but we never get to explore them.
3) The steampunk - I know, I know, that is what a lot of people love about this series but, I just can't seem to wrap my head around it.  To be honest, this may not be a failing within the book itself, since I just can't seem to find a steampunk book that I enjoy.  I always end up thoroughly confused by the nonsensical explanations of technology and bored by the info-dumping.
  

This is, however, the book for anyone that enjoys steampunk and is looking for non-stop action.  I was almost breathless watching Sophronia run from one task to another.  There are werewolves, vampires, kidnappings and high flying theatrics.    The world building is extremely detailed and the blend of paranormal elements adds an interesting twist.

I think I am bowing out on this particular series.  It would take a pretty spectacular synopsis to lure me back in next time - we shall see.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Knifeplay, Gunplay
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Use/Abuse: None

ARC Book Review: Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

Title: Ketchup Clouds

Author: Annabel Pitcher
Publisher: Brown
Release Date: November 12th, 2013
Rating: 5/5

Cover Impressions:  I was not aware until just now, but this appears to be a novel that was published in the UK and now is being released in North America.  The top image is the original and the bottom is the new cover (as far as I can tell).  I have got to say, they certainly got it right with the second cover.  It is really unique and interesting.  I love how it almost looks like one of those weird baby-posed-as-if-he-is-standing photoshoots.

The Gist: Ketchup Clouds begins with a letter to an inmate on death row.  Zoe (real name withheld) is writing to Stuart Harris - convicted killer of two - in order to confess her crimes to someone who might understand the depths of her betrayal.  Through her letters, she reveals how she became involved with two brothers and the consequences of her playing with a pair of hearts.

Review:
I was first intrigued by Ketchup Clouds because the synopsis offered an interesting persepctive - that of a teenage girl, writing a convicted killer in order to confess her own role in a tragedy.  The letter format is interesting and the narrator's voice is unique.  She speaks very matter-of-factly, even though she is clearly burdened by her secret.  Naming herself Zoe, the main narrator shifts backward and forward in time in order to describe her present guilt and her past transgressions.  This roundabout way in which Zoe tells her story adds suspense in a very natural way, without interrupting the flow of the narration.

As a character, Zoe seems like a typical teenage girl.  She feels oppressed by an overbearing mother and burdened by the constant fighting between her parents.  In an effort to gain some independence, she begins lying to her parents and this theme permeates the book as more and more untruths get Zoe into more and more trouble.  I very much enjoyed the realistic portrayal of a modern-day family.  Zoe has two younger sisters, one who is deaf and enjoys the bulk of her mother's attention and one who is not and has begun acting out.  The parents argue over some very serious issues, but we do get to watch them work together to create some sense of harmony.  I did feel that this particular portion of the story was a little too easily solved and I am not sure that, beyond the scope of this story, the family would remain intact.

There was also a character whose behavior gave me serious pause.  Sandra, Max and Aaron's mother.  Throughout the "presentday" portion of the narration her actions become more and more erratic and alarming.  She called Zoe far more often than is appropriate and would show up unannounced.  I realize that she is being portrayed as the grieving mother, but I simply could not understand why Zoe's parents did not step in and deny her access to their child.  I also found it incredibly creepy that Zoe was writing this story to a convicted murderer on death row.  It was particularly upsetting when she began describing her sexual exploration.  I couldn't help picturing this grown man and how he would react to these descriptions of sexual play among teenagers.  It was more than a little unsettling for me, particularly because I teach teenagers Zoe's age.  

I really enjoyed Pitcher's writing style and the unique idea behind this particular story.  Sign me up for her next book!

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing, Heavy Petting
Violence: Fighting, Death by Drowning
Inappropriate Language: Tits, Bitch, Bastard, Slut,
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking,

Book Review: Shine by Lauren Myracle

Title: Shine
Author: Lauren Myracle
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date:  May 1, 2011
Rating: 2/5

Cover Impressions:  I do not understand this cover.  Perhaps I missed something, but it doesn't appear to have anything to do with the story held within.  Don't get me wrong, it is pretty, but I like my covers to at least give a hint at what is inside. 

The Gist: Cat's former best friend is subjected to a vicious beating.  It is clear from the nature of the crime that this is a hate crime, perpetrated because Patrick is gay.  It also becomes very clear that the local law enforcement has no clue, and little desire to get to the bottom of it.  But Cat is determined to bring the guilty party to justice and starts asking questions, of her neighbors, her former friends, even her own brother.  Cat's investigation threatens to reveal the deep seeded secrets of the town and to put her own life in danger. 

Review:
I spent the last several days just trying to wrap my head around Shine.  I originally chose it for my student book club because I thought it would be a great mystery with some contemporary issues thrown in for good measure.  I had no idea (and was actually rather taken aback by) how dark it was.  I remember thinking at several points "this situation could not possibly get more sad" and then it did.  Over and over again.  It seemed that, in this entire town, there did not exist one stable family.  All of the characters were remarkably broken in some way, and often in several ways.

Our main character, Cat, is being raised by an overbearing aunt and an absentee, alcoholic father.  Several years ago, she had a life-altering experience that caused her to drop all of her friends and retreat into herself and her books.  I liked Cat, but I never really felt like I connected with her.  Other than one traumatic experience in her past and the fact that she loves to read (though I dispute the legitimacy of this claim as her favorite book is the cliched To Kill A Mockingbird), I don't really feel like I know anything about her.  Likewise, with many of the other characters.  I actually had difficulty keeping many of them straight as they all seemed to blend together.  I felt no chemistry between Cat and the love interest and he was probably the most bland character of all.  

The main storyline of Shine starts off very mysterious and the details behind Patrick's assault are heartbreaking.  I was on board for about the first quarter of the book, and then, once a hint or two was dropped, it was very easy to see where the story would be going.  It then became frustrating as I waited for Kat to catch up to what I had already figured out.  I kept waiting for some plot twist that would prove me wrong, but it never came.  What did come was a final quarter of the book that was remarkably preachy and provided forgiveness for child molesters and no real sense of justice for an unspeakably cruel crime.  In the end, the evils of drug use were used to explain away heinous behavior and nothing changed for the town, or the people in it - least of all Patrick

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 16 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Child Abuse, Rape, Extreme Violence and Homophobia, Gunplay
Inappropriate Language: Bitch, Dyke, Cock, Bastard, Pussy, Shit, Piss, Slut, Nigger, Fucking, Queer, Faggot
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking, Meth Use, Marijuana Use, Alcoholism

Waiting on Wednesday (38)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Champion by Marie Lu which is due to be released on Nov 5th.

The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

Yet another book that I am sure is on a lot of people's WOW this month.  I am planning a re-read of at least the previous book, if not both, before this finale.  November is going to be an awesome month for conclusions to trilogies!

ARC Book Review: Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Title: Hyperbole and a Half

Author: Allie Brosh
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Rating:4/5

Cover Impressions: I love the bright colors of the book and the artwork will be easily recognizable for people who are already fans of Allie's blog, however, I am a little concerned that it might not necessarily draw in new readers. 

Review:

Having been a follower of Hyperbole and a Half (add link) for quite some time, seeing this title was extremely exciting for me.  I have read so many of Allie's posts that I really feel like I know her.  As if I could send her a text in the middle of this book about how brilliant it is and she would send back a winky and a few random emoticons as if it was just another night, chatting with an old pal.

The book features individual stories, some hilarious, some poignant, accompanied by drawings that look like they were done by a three year old awesome illustrations.  Highlights include Warning Signs, Dinosaur (The Goose Story, and The Party.  Some of these stories are incredibly funny - tears rolling down your face kind of funny.  Don't read it in public because people will move away from you on the bus kind of funny.  I am a particular fan of anything Allie writes about her childhood as she was a particularly insane precocious child.  Other sections provide remarkable insight into depression and mental illness.  Allie does not hold anything back and is honest with her readers in a way that most people can't even be with themselves.  There were many point where the author discussed the darker nature of her personality that left me thinking "OMG, I do that".  Not only did I recognize this in myself, but it made me feel less alone and I wanted to call Allie up and tell her so that SHE could feel less alone. 

I will note that, for regular readers of the Hyperbole and a Half blog, there is not a great deal of new content, though I certainly did not mind re-reading.  That being said, Allie Brosh has a lifelong fan in this reader.  Recommending for many of my friends and anxiously awaiting anything else that Allie has planned to write. 

ARC Book Review: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: The Naturals
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion
Release Date: November 5th, 2013
Rating: 4/5

Cover Impressions:  I like the cover for The Naturals, but I almost feel like something is missing and I can't quite put my finger on it.  Perhaps it is the white fading to gray background....

The Gist: Cassie is a natural at reading people.  She has never thought it was good for much until the day that the FBI leaves a calling card.  She soon finds herself part of a secret government program that trains teenagers to solve cold case files.  Along with four strange and quirky teens, she begins training for the role of profiler - a job that may be more dangerous than anyone had thought. 

Review:
I was actually quite surprised by how much I enjoyed The Naturals.  In the world of YA, it is not too often that I get to read a straight-laced mystery.  As a big fan of Criminal Minds, I was really interested to see how Jennifer Lynn Barnes would take on the world of profilers.  Cassie's abilities are natural, but were honed from years of reading crowds as her mother preformed as a "psychic".  When she joins The Naturals - a secret program run by the FBI in order to train teenagers with special gifts - she is finally able to put those talents to use.  The story reads very much like an intense episode of Criminal Minds and Barnes does not shy away from the more graphic aspects.  The narration includes interludes spoken from the mind of the serial killer that the team is chasing.  These sections provide terrifying insight into the thoughts of a killer (a world that Cassie is trying to discover) and add a sense of urgency to the plot. 

Since I read a great deal of YA, it is often all too easy to forsee where a plot is going.  In The Naturals, however, I was actually surprised by a few of the plot twists which is certainly a refreshing change.  It is also nice to see a solid mystery that doesn't rely on supernatural abilities.  I will say that there are some aspects that were a little too easy and had to be taken with a grain of salt - such as ability of an untrained teenager to outsmart seasoned FBI profilers.  The novel is also rather dark and there are some particularly gruesome descriptions that may be disturbing for some readers. 

I found Cassie to be a little boring.  Other than her abilities and being witness to her mother's murder, she is not particularly interesting.  But, I did enjoy many of the other characters.  Sloane, for one, was cute and quirky.  She often had lines that made me smile or laugh "'This encryption is pathetic,' Sloane said.  'It's like they want me to hack their files.'"  She also had a handy penchant for stealing and a less than healthy obsession with blowing things up.  Lia, the human lie detector, was also a great character.  She was a bit of a character chameleon and, from page to page, I was never sure which Lia I was going to get. 

I am not yet sure if this novel will lead into a series.  It does not appear so on Goodreads, but the ending seems to imply that it will.  If so, I will certainly be reading the next installment but, I would be even more excited if I were to learn that it would feature Sloane or Lia as main character, rather than Cassie. 

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Descriptions of Murder and Torture, Knifeplay, Gunplay
Inappropriate Language: Whore, Slut
Substance Use/Abuse:

Waiting on Wednesday (37)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield which is due to be released on November 5th.
 

 ONE MOMENT IN TIME CAN HAUNT YOU FOREVER.

Caught up in a moment of boyhood competition, William Bellman recklessly aims his slingshot at a rook resting on a branch, killing the bird instantly. It is a small but cruel act, and is soon forgotten. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to have put the whole incident behind him. It was as if he never killed the thing at all. But rooks don’t forget...

Years later, when a stranger mysteriously enters William’s life, his fortunes begin to turn—and the terrible and unforeseen consequences of his past indiscretion take root. In a desperate bid to save the only precious thing he has left, he enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner. Together, they found a decidedly macabre business.

And Bellman & Black is born.

I cannot even tell you how excited I am for this book.  I was a huge fan of The Thirteenth Tale WAY BACK when it first released.  Since then, I have periodically checked to see if she had another book underway and I never found anything.  That is, until the day that I checked an email from Netgalley and there it was, in all its beautiful glory.  

ARC Book Review: Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

Title: Bellman & Black
Author: Diane Setterfield
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: November 5th, 2013
Rating: 2/5

Cover Impressions:  The EARC that I received featured the first cover but this appears to be the cover being used for the paperback.  The image below, is the cover for the hardcover.  While I do like the image for the paperback with the emphasis on time and the blue/black feathers, the hardcover version is much mroe appealing.  I love the image of the Rook and the black ribbon as well as the scrollwork in the corners.  It feels much more gothic and fits well with the overall tone of the novel.

The Gist: When William Bellman was a boy he killed a rook on a childhood dare.  The arc of trajectory of the stone plays an important role in determining the outcome of William's life.  As a young man, he begins working for his Uncle's textile mill and discovers and incredible acumen for the business.  Years later, with his young family secure and his business thriving, William's luck takes a turn for the worst.  Having lost almost everything, he strikes a mysterious deal with an even more mysterious stranger and sets his sights on the business of death.  

Review:
I distinctly remember reading The Thirteenth Tale and falling in love with the author's style.  It was an engrossing read with a well-planned mystery.  I was expecting something similar from Bellman & Black.  While Setterfield's writing style remains beautiful, and dark, and gothic, the plot of Bellman & Black simply did not hold up to its predecessor. 

Having read the synopsis I was anxiously awaiting the clandestine meeting of Bellman and Black.  It took a very long time to get to the magical part of the story.  This interrupted my reading in the first 1/3rd because I was constantly waiting for the dark stranger to appear and to strike a deal. In fact, I feel like I spent the length of this entire novel waiting.  I was waiting for the "mysterious stranger" to appear, waiting for Bellman to come into his own, waiting for his daughter to become a more interesting character.  I spent so much of the novel waiting for something interesting to happen that I was not actually enjoying what I was reading. 

There were some aspects of the novel that gave me glimmers of hope for a more successful outcome.  The scenes involving the fever, for example, were incredibly well written.  They were truly painful and simply written, but even through the language and phrasing I could see the pain that these sweeping deaths caused.  This is where Setterfield shone; in the language of suffering 

I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Bellman at the beginning of the book.  He was young, energetic and full of life.  As the book wore on I became more and more tired of the individual that William Bellman became.  The plot was almost entirely character driven, which was unfortuate, because, by the end of the book, I simply didn't like the main character.  I would have been a much happier reader if some of the other characters had been more fleshed out.  There was great potential in Bellman's daughter Dora, and the seamstress, Lizzie but, unfortunately, they remained flat characters with little impact on the story.   

The ending left me feeling unsatisfied.  I spent the entire book waiting for the appearance of Black and when we finally get to learn his secrets they were not nearly as exciting as I had hoped.  The end scene was actually incredibly anti-climatic.  I spent several days after reading trying to piece together my feelings and force my way into liking the story, but I simply couldn't.  I remain a huge fan of the beautiful way in which Setterfield is able to string words together but, in this particular novel, there was not enough plot to hold my interest.    

Stacking the Shelves (23)

Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

EARCS I GOT THIS WEEK:

A fairly light week.  Since work and raising a 2 year old is interfering with my fictional relationships, I am trying to be very selective about the books that I request.  I am really excited about all three of these books, but especially by Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times.  Can you say cover SQUEEEEEE!!!

Audio Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Macmillin Audio
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Rating: 4/5

Cover Impressions:  Pretty.  Not quite as interesting as the cover for Cinder, but it fits the theme well and I do love that color red.

The Gist: While Cinder attempts to escape from prison and her upcoming execution by Queen Lavana, Scarlet Benoit is desperately searching for her missing grandmother. She meets up with Wolf, a street fighter with a mysterious tattoo that may be connected to the disappearance and the two plan to take on an entire gang of mercenaries.  As Scarlet searches for the truth, she uncovers secrets about her grandmother, her family and their mysterious connection to the missing Lunar Princess. 

Review: 

I listened to both Cinder and Scarlet as an audiobook.  I have to admit, I found the whole Sci-Fi/Fairy Tale Mash Up  little predictable in Cinder.  I felt like Cinder was always two steps behind and I was just waiting for her to catch up.  In Scarlet, however, the plot did not follow the fairy tale quite as closely and I found it to be much more suspenseful.  I had a vague idea that eventually the characters would find one another but I really was in the dark about how the rest of the story would develop and how the grandmother and wolf elements would be incorporated.

The romance develops quickly, but is not instant and, by the end, is very believable and sweet.  I am a big fan of multi-faceted characters and Wolf certainly fits the bill - one never really knows where his loyalties lie. I loved the character of Thorne; thief extraordinaire and lover of all things female, he was an excellent addition to the cast of characters and added some well-needed comic relief.  Scarlet was not my favorite from the very beginning and I found myself anxiously awaiting Cinder's chapters, but she did grow on me.  In fact, when she finally met up with Cinder, I was cheering on her take-no-prisoners attitude and giving her kudos for being the only character to tell Cinder off.
 
Meyer still doesn't shy away from killing off important characters.  One particular death left me sad and angry in a way that only the best books can.  The manner of deaths vary and are often gruesome.  Scarlet features some very tense scenes involving some truly terrifying characters.  The pacing is well done and I was on the edge of my seat for much of the book.  This novel clearly set up for the third installment in the series but had a strong enough plot to be satisfying all on its own.
 
Scarlet featured quite a few accents and the narrator of the audiobook did a very good job of the distinguishing the characters without allowing them to overpower the dialogue.  I was very happy to note that there is a marked difference between the voices of Scarlet and Cinder.  

Time to start counting down the days until Cress is released!


Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Gunplay, Knifeplay, Mind Control, Torture, Animalistic Attacks
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Use/Abuse: None

Waiting on Wednesday (36)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Allegiant by Veronica Roth which is due to be released on October 22nd.

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

I am willing to bet that this is showing up on a lot of WOW posts this month.  I may have to do a re-read of Insurgent for this one, or at least the last couple chapters as I am not quite sure I remember the details at the end.  I hope this end to the trilogy is satisfying for readers.

Book Review: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Title: Etiquette & Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Brown/Hachette
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Rating: 3/5

Cover Impressions:  I love everything about this cover.  The wallpaper background contrasts beautifully with the black starkness of the dress.  The ruffles and buttons on the dress keep my eye moving and I appreciate that the stance removes it from the typical "girl in a pretty dress" category.  The font works very well and doesn't mar the cover image. 

The Gist: When Sophronia is unceremoniously shipped off to finishing school by her exasperated parents she pictures days of manners, curtsying and proper dinner etiquette.  And that is what she gets - some of the time.  She soon discovers that the school is much more than she expected and perhaps more than her parents had bargained for.  Sophronia learns the art of being a spy as well as being a lady and finds herself at the center of a mystery involving a missing prototype and several bands of dangerous thugs hell-bent on find it. 

Review:

Etiquette & Espionage holds the distinction of being one of the few books that I have ever stopped and re-started again.  When I started reading E&E, I seemed to be surrounded by mediocre books.  Having read some of the rave review, I was a little concerned that my feelings toward this novel were being colored by the whole MEH-Ness of my reading life at the time.  As such, I put it down, read something else and then came back.  Upon returning, I did find it much easier to get into the story and I was a little less annoyed by some of the issues with world-building.

DISCLAIMER: I am generally not a steampunk fan.  There, I said it.  I have not had a great deal of luck with steampunk books in the past and I am beginning to think that I just don't see what so many other people see.  That being said, this was probably the highest rated of my forays into steampunk - so that's something. E&E merges steampunk with mythological creatures and, oddly enough, the strange elements shouldn't quite work together, but they do. 

I did find the whole school setting a bit dry.  There seemed to be a great deal of telling me about what the ladies were learning in the classes instead of allowing me to see for myself.  I was also surprised, by the end of the book, at how much time had passed.  It seemed like events unfolded rather quickly, but the end of the book was the end of the year so perhaps things were moving more slowly than I thought.

The writing and narration style takes a little getting used to.  I found myself annoyed on occasion by the manner in which the characters spoke.  But, by the end, I had gotten used to it and could see some of its charm.  Of course, my major irritation came in the form of the names. Mrs Barnaclegoos, Lord Dingleproops, The Great Chutney- you have got to be kidding me.  The only character who had a "normal" name was Agatha and she was meant to be the most boring and timid!  This made it difficult to keep the characters straight in my head and, when a new character was introduced, I often found myself stopping to mutter "COME ON?!"

 I didn't find any of the characters particularly loathesome, but then I didn't find them particularly endearing either.  They floated in the land of the unforgettable.  Even Sophronia wasn't that remarkable and I was left searching for any distinguishing on which to throw my love - but none arose. 

I did find the novel much more enjoyable once I re-started at about 3/4 through.  This last section was more exciting and fast paced.  I have Curtsies & Conspiracies on my TBR pile and am really hoping that my slow start was just that, and that I will get to see some more character development in the second installment. 

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: None
Violence: Knifeplay, Gunplay
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Use/Abuse: None

Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Macmillin
Release Date: September, 2011
Rating: 5/5

Cover Impressions:  Love it so much I am pretty sure this is going to be my Halloween costume.  The bright spots of red in an otherwise monochromatic image are phenomenal and I love that you get this great image of Anna's house (once you finally tear your eyes away from the lady herself).

The Gist: Cas Lowood hunts ghosts.  With the death of his father, he took up the family blade and is preparing himself for the ultimate battle - with his father's killer.  Along the way he is intrigued by the story of Anna Dressed in Blood, a ghost who died under mysterious circumstances and brutally murders anyone who dare enter her house.  As Cas investigates, he finds a ghost that is far beyond anything he has faced before.  With the help of his new friends, Thomas and Carmel, he tries to get to the bottom of Anna's murder and discover what makes her so special.

Review:
This is actually my second time reading Anna Dressed in Blood.  The first time was before I really got into blogging and so I didn't write a review.  This time, I chose it as the season opener for my student book club.

I love the feeling of this book.  Blake doesn't shy away from amazingly brutal scenes and it engages the reader in a way that a more censored version never could.  This novel is not for the faint of heart.  There are some truly gruesome and horrific scenes.  One of my favorites involves the first time we meet Anna - the ghost who changes everything.  There is very little lead up.  We stop only for a short visual description before Anna unleashes her terrifying power.  Anna walks a tightrope in between all powerful evil goddess and sympathetic character who we root for.  The author has done an incredible job of letting us see all of the facets of her character. 

I enjoyed watching all of the missteps as Cas develops friendships for the first time ever.  I found myself smiling or laughing each time he would lament how much easier it was the deal with the dead rather than the living.  The characters of Cas, Anna, and Thomas are decently well developed and interesting but I never really get a feel for Carmel.  She doesn't seem to add anything significant to the plot other than playing the girl in their Scooby Doo Gang.

Anna Dressed in Blood is a veritable "This Is How You Do It" when it comes to the balance between suspense and action.  Blake does a wonderful job providing enough action to keep the plot moving very quickly while also allowing for some relationship building and character development.

I am a fan - reading everything Kendare Blake writes for the rest of her life.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Graphic Supernatural Violence
Inappropriate Language: Bastard,Shit, Fuck, Dick, Ass, Douche, Pussy, Bitch, Whore
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking, Smoking
Other Issues: Scary scenes - may give younger readers nightmares